Sleek 3G Phone Doubles as Music, Video Player

Nov. 12, 2007 — -- If you're looking for an elegant 3G phone that won't break the bank, the Nokia 6555 for AT&T subscribers may be what you've been waiting for.

As with any gadget, this phone has its pros and cons, but it's an excellent product for those seeking a sophisticated, low-cost phone with several multimedia features.

This Nokia has a unique long, lean look. When flipped open the middle seam of this shiny black clamshell remains hidden on the outer surface creating a perfectly smooth line that fits easily in the palm of your hand. Adding to the sophisticated appearance, users can choose a classy analog clock screen saver to appear on the phone's external minidisplay.

When open, the phone's length allows for near perfect alignment with the ear and mouth speakers. I used the phone in New York City where I experienced impressive voice clarity without any dropped calls.

The silver square Navi key located above the number keys is well-designed, with ample space for your thumb to navigate menu options without accidentally pressing other buttons. The QVGA 16 million-color main display made games and graphics appear crisp and bright on the two-inch screen.

Both photos and video looked somewhat dark and discolored when shot with the Nokia's 1.3 mexapixel camera, which has a 6x optical zoom. Nokia decided to store photos and videos in a folder called Tones and Graphics. Despite the unusual name, I easily found the folder via the camera options menu.

Internet users will find that it's easy and quick to surf for information thanks to several shortcuts linked to commonly used Web sites.

The Nokia 6555 is also an MP3 player that is compatible with other music formats such as MP4 and Windows Media Audio. You can access AT&T's music and video services as well as XM satellite radio. It does not, however, include FM radio.

Conveniently, the volume button is located on the left-hand side of the phone, which provides easy access while listening to music. The phone stores up to 30 MB of media files, and even more if you buy the microSD memory card. The memory card, however, must be installed underneath the battery, which is difficult to remove because the back cover of the phone doesn't include a release button.

Need a place to store all of your personal information? This phone allows you to enter 1,000 contacts and you can also add up to 1,500 entries into the calendar section. Transferring this information into Microsoft Outlook is done via Bluetooth or a USB connection.

Other interesting features include a shortcut list that you can customize to quickly access your most-used phone features, and a voice recorder that allows for voice-activated dialing. And for the jet-set types, Nokia offers a flight-mode option that lets users safely play games, listen to music or watch videos without violating airline safety rules.

The biggest downside to this phone is the battery, which gave out after the following combined actions: a one-hour phone conversation (without a Bluetooth headset), 20 minutes of game playing, 10 minutes of song playing, a few photos, one minute of video and two days of standby time. For a phone that also includes Bluetooth technology, a music player, Web browser and a video player, it's easy to imagine the battery dying in a much shorter time depending on how often you rely on any one of these features. Some users may also find it disappointing that unlike the majority of mobile phones, the Nokia 6555 only includes a few ringtones to choose from — any other options must be downloaded.

But here's the bottom line: If you use your phone moderately and don't mind charging it every day, then the Nokia 6555 offers reliable, clear phone service while also serving a host of other functions. AT&T is currently offering this phone for $199 without a plan, or $49 with a two-year plan.